Online TM6 form for visitors to Thailand coming on May 1

[sqwakvfr]

It does not sound like this is going to be an ETA which requires approval? Or does it? How long will it take to process? Will there be a fee?  "Things always go smoothly"??? At least I hope so. 

[Upnotover]

Did you read something somewhere about May 1st?

[UWEB]

16 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Did you read something somewhere about May 1st?

Here we go

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2945991/online-tm6-form-for-visitors-to-thailand-coming-on-may-1

[DrJack54]

OP, it's unknown when ETA will be up and running. 

The plan is process time overnight.

There is no fee.

 

"Things always go smoothly" 

Not a hope in hades.

 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, UWEB said:

Here we go

Thanks for the article. My favorite bit is .....

"The government wants the TM6 process to operate without any problems, and it could take months or a even a year until the system runs smoothly, said the source." 

 

To refer to this as an online TM6 is bit of a joke. In my tourist visa days I used to put for address "Nana Plaza Soi 4"

They type about "keeping a track on tourists" surely that's a joke. 

Many tourists wing it. 

[sqwakvfr]

This plan for the obline TM 6 sounds a little bit like the MDAC(Malasian Digital Arrival Card). I went to KL two weeks ago and had to apply for an MDAC on the Malaysian Immigration website.  The usual questions were asked: passport, flight arrival and departure and the address of my accommodation. Obviously Malaysia has never had 30 to 40 million arrivals per year and so i thought it would be a seamless process. It was not.  I could only submit the MDAC application two days before departure. Also, Malaysian mmigration never sent me an email to confirm the MDAC had been approved.   I had to track my MDAC applicaton on the Malaysian website and after about 20 minutes I found the MDAC Pdf.  I had the MDAC pdf one day before departure.  I wonder how Thai immigration will roll out the online TM 6?  Also, when I checked in for my flight from CNX to KL the checkin desk asked to see my MDAC.  So the next question is if one does not have an Online TM 6 will an airline deny checkin?  

[Classic Ray]

Makes you wonder how we’ve all been managing since the paper TM6 forms have gone out of use. Almost all of the necessary information, except accommodation address, already available from the airline.

[DrJack54]

50 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I had the MDAC pdf one day before departure.  I wonder how Thai immigration will roll out the online TM 6? 

That's a scary question. 

Also obtaining MDAC one day prior would be stressful 

[Drumbuie]

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for the article. My favorite bit is .....

"The government wants the TM6 process to operate without any problems, and it could take months or a even a year until the system runs smoothly, said the source." 

 

To refer to this as an online TM6 is bit of a joke. In my tourist visa days I used to put for address "Nana Plaza Soi 4"

They type about "keeping a track on tourists" surely that's a joke. 

Many tourists wing it. 

 

Think about it. Immigration will have every tourist's passport details, date of entry, and visa length on their database. Then it's the work of a moment to query that database and produce an easily circulated list of overstayers. 

So then police in tourist hotspots can keep an eye open - and so can CCTV with facial recognition software. 

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

Think about it. Immigration will have every tourist's passport details, date of entry, and visa length on their database

They already will have that when you are stamped in.

You mention "visa length" 

The ETA is for visa exempt entry..

4 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

Then it's the work of a moment to query that database and produce an easily circulated list of overstayers.

Nothing to do with ETA.

4 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

So then police in tourist hotspots can keep an eye open - and so can CCTV with facial recognition software. 

 Again nothing to do with ETA. 

[Ralf001]

8 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

 

Think about it. Immigration will have every tourist's passport details, date of entry, and visa length on their database. 

 

 

the airline has that info already... you think they do not give it to immigration ?

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

They already will have that when you are stamped in.

You mention "visa length" 

The ETA is for visa exempt entry..

Nothing to do with ETA.

You serious. Again nothing to do with ETA. 

 

This thread is about TM6.... nothing to do with ETA.

[Caldera]

This is how it looks like to me:

 

It has dawned on them that they haven't made much progress with implementing the ETA. They want to do "something", so this is what they came up with.

 

A bit of a joke, really. 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Caldera said:

This is how it looks like to me:

 

It has dawned on them that they haven't made much progress with implementing the ETA. They want to do "something", so this is what they came up with.

 

A bit of a joke, really. 

You are 100% correct.

The online TM6 is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

They have realized the ETA is bit more difficult than they envisaged.

Perhaps waiting for the IT team that created online reporting to iron out the bumps. 

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

The online TM6 is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

 

The $64,000 question, of course, is whether it will only be those entering Thailand on the basis of tourist visas or visa exemptions who will be required to file an online TM6. Or will this requirement apply equally to longstayers entering/returning to Thailand on the basis of non-immigrant visas/re-entry permits?

 

[Pattaya57]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

They already will have that when you are stamped in.

You mention "visa length" 

The ETA is for visa exempt entry..

Nothing to do with ETA.

You serious. Again nothing to do with ETA. 

Neither does this thread have anything to do with ETA. This is a new TM6 online application system (thread in news forum)

 

 

This is an absolute joke. If implemented we'll have to do a TM6 online application to give address before entry, do a TM30 to give address within 24 hours of arrival and then a 90 day report to give an address. How many time do we have to give an address before they can find us if needed?

 

Same with a tourist. They'll have to do an online TM6 and an ETA before arrival and then ensure a TM30 after arrival. 3 tines to formally give an address just to be on holiday 

[raz0r21]

There is a bit of a difference between an ETA and a TM6. ETA is something that is needed to authorize travel, while TM6 is just mandatory "information reporting" for your trip. You can probably fly without filing a TM6 but pay a fine, just like with the TM30. Without an ETA you will not even be allowed to board the plane.

 

But it will be an absolute nightmare if both those systems are implemented. The amount of hoops to jump through would be so immense that the losses from tourism would be astronomical. I am sure most tourists will just look elsewhere if its too difficult to go to a country for a holiday.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, raz0r21 said:

But it will be an absolute nightmare if both those systems are implemented.

That won't happen (so they say) 

The ETA is meant to replace the TM6.

This online TM6 nonsense is cover up for the delayed ETA.

 

[Will B Good]

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You are 100% correct.

The online TM6 is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

They have realized the ETA is bit more difficult than they envisaged.

Perhaps waiting for the IT team that created online reporting to iron out the bumps. 

 

NOOOOOOOO!!!

[Upnotover]

4 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

Same with a tourist. They'll have to do an online TM6 and an ETA before arrival and then ensure a TM30 after arrival. 3 tines to formally give an address just to be on holiday 

Well not really.  The TM6 will or may eventually be replaced by the ETA and no real "tourist" ever has to worry about a TM30.

[Pattaya57]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That won't happen (so they say) 

The ETA is meant to replace the TM6.

This online TM6 nonsense is cover up for the delayed ETA.

Or two project teams are working independently so don't know what the other is doing 😀

 

I don't mind the ETA as it's only for tourists. Person on a long-term visa having to do an online TM6 when there's a TM30 and 90 day report stapled in their passport is ridiculous though

 

[zzzzz]

7 hours ago, Caldera said:

This is how it looks like to me:

 

It has dawned on them that they haven't made much progress with implementing the ETA. They want to do "something", so this is what they came up with.

 

A bit of a joke, really. 

Malaysia , Cambodia and Singapore all require u submit something online before u arrive in their country
Cambodia even has a bunch of tablets in the arrival hall if u forgot 

i don't see any big deal, BUT also see nothing that helps track u beyond ur first nights stay
TM 30's submitted by hotels take over for that when ur moving around so whats the point?
 

Quote

"She said the online form is expected to help track tourists while they are in Thailand, increasing confidence in safety as the country combats negative perceptions.

 

[roobaa01]

Gday

They the new TM 6 applies only to Tourists hence I assume the long-term expats are exempted from it ? Extension of stay with 12 months stay and re-entry permit.

Same was said with the ETA only Tourists.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

[Will B Good]

Just now, roobaa01 said:

Gday

They the new TM 6 applies only to Tourists hence I assume the long-term expats are exempted from it ? Extension of stay with 12 months stay and re-entry permit.

Same was said with the ETA only Tourists.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

 

 

Oh! Interesting. Good spot.

 

 

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

I don't mind the ETA as it's only for tourists. Person on a long-term visa having to do an online TM6 when there's a TM30 and 90 day report stapled in their passport is ridiculous though

Agree, however some random posts in various platforms suggest reentry permit folk (expats) etc might be also be subject to this requirement.

Ridiculous however who knows at this point. 

 

[Pattaya57]

9 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

Gday

They the new TM 6 applies only to Tourists hence I assume the long-term expats are exempted from it ? Extension of stay with 12 months stay and re-entry permit.

Same was said with the ETA only Tourists.

 

Wbr

Roobaa01

That's not what the press release I posted above says. For the online TM6 they say:

 

The online system will be mandatory for all foreign arrivals, whether they enter by air, land, or sea, and registration will be free of charge.

[Maestro]

10 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Makes you wonder how we’ve all been managing since the paper TM6 forms have gone out of use. Almost all of the necessary information, except accommodation address, already available from the airline.

 

Immigration does not routinely collect information from the airlines.

 

I suspect than when the TM.6 requirement for air passengers was abolished, someone forgot to delete the requirement for immigration officials at the airports to input the flight number on their computer screen, hence the I/O's request for the boarding pass.

[garygooner]

15 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

That's not what the press release I posted above says. For the online TM6 they say:

 

The online system will be mandatory for all foreign arrivals, whether they enter by air, land, or sea, and registration will be free of charge.

As per usual the information is not totally clear. 

[Caldera]

I think the best guess is that anyone who had to fill in a paper TM6 before (and still has to do so at some land borders right now) will have to fill in the electronic version as well. Which means no distinction between tourists and longterm foreign residents.

 

For the ETA, on the other hand, they had mentioned that it's only for those entering visa exempt. Which makes sense, because longterm foreign residents with a re-entry permit have their pre-approval to re-enter in that form already.

[mlkik]

6 hours ago, Caldera said:

I think the best guess is that anyone who had to fill in a paper TM6 before (and still has to do so at some land borders right now) will have to fill in the electronic version as well. Which means no distinction between tourists and longterm foreign residents.

 

For the ETA, on the other hand, they had mentioned that it's only for those entering visa exempt. Which makes sense, because longterm foreign residents with a re-entry permit have their pre-approval to re-enter in that form already.

100% correct